PoultryTalk.com

I have a big stone shed that is my chicken house - just for 9 ex battery hens at the moment. I have used poultry shield and the usual 'total mite kill' powders but still found quite a few red mites in the house. We waged war on them yesterday - burnt the old perches and tried out some rubber skips for roosting (no cracks and crannies for mites to hide in). I have read about a bio treatment for red mites... predator mites! you put them in the house and they eat the red mites but do not bite your chickens. (along the lines of introducing nemetodes to your garden to get rid of slugs). Wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this slightly mad idea?

Yes, I have just come across those too and was wondering the same thing. I've been fighting against red mite for nearly six months. I use diatom in the coop every week and put red mite powder down once a month and occasionaly spray with a disinfectant but they just seem to keep coming back :( From what I gather these p.mites will actually go onto the hen and get the r.mite off the hen too, not just out of the house. I've tried the smokebombs also and it seemed to have an immediate effect but two weeks later my girls were crawling with them again.

I used a diluted spray for pigeon lofts - I think its called Harkers and contains permethrin. Sprayed on with a garden sprayer into all nooks and crannies while the hens were out and then left to dry. I dust the hens with a citronella powder before they return.

I've tried Diatom but after leaving a heap of mites in a jar of Diatom for two days with only minimal kill I gave it up as a bad job.

Rob

have you tried vasalene spread it thick on the end of perches they cant get to your hens i use ant powder from poundland seams to work

Red mite are an ongoing problem which seem to plague almost everyone who keeps chickens.Having tried high street potions and powders over the years with only short term success,we turned to an agricultural superstore called TFM.They stock treatments for anything farm related,and are usually kept behind a glass cabinet.Lets face it,if Mr Farmer shops here whose livelyhood depends on healthy birds,it must be good.We are fortunate enough to have a TFM near our workshop,but i do believe they have an online store.I hope you find this info of use as we swear by them and we always recommend anyone who contacts us with mite problems.
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